Simultaneous knockdown of the four rice SEP-like genes OsMADS1, OsMADS5, OsMADS7 and OsMADS8, leads to homeotic transformation of all floral organs except the lemma into leaf-like organs

In case of the loss-of-function mutation of OsMADS5, no defect in either panicles or vegetative organs was observed

Genetic and molecular analyses demonstrated that OsMADS1, OsMADS5 and OsMADS34 together regulate floral meristem determinacy, and specify the identities of spikelet organs by positively regulating the other MADS-box floral homeotic genes

Experiments conducted in yeast also suggested that OsMADS1, OsMADS5 and OsMADS34 form protein-protein interactions with other MADS-box floral homeotic members, which seems to be a typical, conserved feature of plant SEP proteins

OsMADS5 was expressed strongly across a broad range of reproductive stages and tissues